Asthma peak flow

[Owlyhedgehog]

Im feeling a bit worried tonight.
Im 41 and diagnosed with asthma couple years ago. I missed my review last month. Normally I am fine, dont need my blue inhaler. I have the brown too.
Ive had a cough all day and tonight started with a really sore throat which is making my chest really tight. Did peak flow and its been 250 all night. Taken blue inhaler.
I hate taking the blue inhaler because it makes me feel so strange and shakey.
I am on my own and feeling a bit worried but hopefully go to bed and wake up feeling fine!

Oh I’m sorry you’re feeling unwell.

What is your peak flow normally?

Does the blue inhaler feel like it’s helped? How many puffs have you been told to take when you need it?

Oh and my blue inhaler can make me feel shaky and it is a horrible feeling, but it also does remind me that it’s doing it’s job at ‘waking’ my lungs up so to speak

At your last review, we're you given an action plan which recorded the peak flow rate below which you ought to seek help? It is probably worth ringing the NHS 111 service.

FWIW, in the past when my peak flow has dropped as yours has, I have had up to 10 puffs of Ventolin, a couple at a time, and that has been effective ( even though it gives me the shakes, too), but you ought to seek advice.

Try to get to your review when you can. I was on blue and brown inhalers for many years (at least 30!) Was prescribed Fostair a few weeks ago and it has been a great improvement. But I'm sure you'll be fone tonight.

I'd second asking for Fostair as well in your next review. I've been on it for the last couple of years and haven't needed to take my blue inhaler nearly so much. ( have had asthma for as long as I can remember)
When my asthma is bad a night sometimes I find it helps to sleep a little bit propped up on pillows if that's not too uncomfortable ( advice I was given in hospital) and also like a pp said you can take 10 plus puffs of blue - I know it doesn't feel great but it's not dangerous.
Also, try to breathe long, slowly and stay calm as you can ( I know it's tricky) think yoga breathing etc.

Thanks everyone. I feel like my chest is making a noise as i breathe in. Ive had another puff of blue.
I dont think I have an action plan. This has literally been the second time in the past 2-3 years of being diagnosed that I have struggled.
I hate the shakey feeling which puts me off taking it.

From what you’ve said, I think it would be worth calling 111. Are you feeling any relief from your blue inhaler?

Im not a medical professional but have had asthma since being a toddler. In your situation, I would be taking one puff of my blue inhaler approximately every minute for 10 minutes. If that did not make my chest feel less tight / my breaths come easier, I would then be calling 111 at a minimum.

Nobody will mind you getting help or checked out for your asthma.

how much brown are you on?
what is your norml Peak flow rate

If your chest is making a noise,then you may well have a chest infection. So you might need antibiotics.
Try calling 111.
Do you know what your "normal" peak flow is? Because that is important. My "normal" is about 160, so anything below that is a worry. If you do your peak flow reading daily you will get familiar with its ups and downs.

And the shakes you get with ventolin is normal, especially if you don't take ventolin regularly.

If I am wheezy, my "go to" in the first instance is a strong cup of black coffee, I'd I haven't got my standby antibiotics and steriods.

I hope you feel better soon.

My normal peak flow is about 350
I think I am feeling slightly better but my chest is making a sound as i breath in.
I dont have any go to tos, what works?!
Brown pump is 2 morning 2 at night

Are you taking antihistamines. The pollen this year is vicious. I take one daily.

Not sure if its anything to do with it but I had a really bad tummy ache earlier before all this started

I dont take antihistamines but maybe I should. Ive been with my horse all afternoon but woke up with this really annoying cough to start with

It sounds like you are wheezing, which happens when your airways are constricted. The blue inhaler should be starting to relieve that constriction, hopefully. It might be worth having another go at the peak flow and seeing if there has been any change.

Caffeine can help your airways function better, as long as it’s not a trigger for your asthma it might be worth having a strong coffee (although that won’t help the shaky feeling potentially). It does sometimes make me feel better, perhaps only a placebo factor.

The tummy ache might have been the muscles in your test tightening, depending on where it was.

I know I get a horrible pain in my back when my asthma is bad, and I feel quite nauseous.

I'm not posting to alarm you, but please call 111 now. Don't underestimate asthma. It kills.

Please be careful. I was similar. Never had a full asthma attack until I did and ended up very poorly in hospital. My peak flow dropped and I ignored it until I couldn’t.
Forstair is very effective and if you get worse at night then montelukast works well to help. It’s a single tablet you take at night. The pollen count etc is very high at min so that could be affecting you.

OP, please listen to previous posters, call 111 at the very least. Asthma attacks are very scary and they hit when you least expect them.
Please don't go to bed and expect to wake up fine.
Fostair is a brilliant inhaler, so I'd ask about it when you have a review (and I'd politely suggest that this is sooner rather than later).
Keep using the Ventolin, while you wait for 111 to call you back.

I echo calling 111 if the blue inhaler isn’t relieving your asthma. You should call 999 if you can’t get your breath. Please don’t leave it.

DS's asthma flared up rapidly in the aftermath of the 40⁰C weather last year; we had 2 ambulances out in a week as the blue ventolin didn't settle him properly. It wasn't like a cliché wheezy asthma attack, they just didn't settle, and kept flaring up repeatedly any time the air quality changed. Eventually he got upped to Montelukast, and quite a high dose of turbohalers, which are now gently winding down

With hindsight, it was preceeded by a tight chest/ tummy ache. It had been so long since it flared up and was more about persistent coughs when he was little so he didn't recognise the danger sign, and I wasn't alert for it. It also wasn't his traditional trigger.

If in doubt, call 111. It is taken seriously and it also creates a trail to lead to updating medication to regain control.

Please get medical help, either 111 or go to A & E. I don't want to frighten you, but ds cousin had an asthma attack last weekend, she ended up with a cardiac arrest & sadly died. It is better to feel daft for seeking treatment than for something to go wrong.

If the blue inhaler is not relieving your symptoms, you need urgent medical attention. Call 111. Sit upright and lean forward a bit rather than lying down while you wait.

If you feel really bad, 999 is absolutely not an over-reaction, eg if you find you can't talk. Asthma can deteriorate very fast.

I've had asthma all my life and this is the advice I have always been given by doctors. Once you feel better, go and see your doctor and get an action plan with peak flow numbers so that you know when you need help. I think 250 is quite low and you should be seeking help now.

i have asthma and was told by my GP that peak flow just needs to be consistent, rather than at a certain number. So if 250 for you is normal, that’s ok, but if you are normally 400 and now it’s 250, that is a big concern.

Hi OP - how are you doing today?

Her normal peak flow is 350 she said, so 250 sounds on the low side to me.

I hope you are doing better today, @Owlyhedgehog.